The daughter of the late Mrs. Willie M. Pickett Alexander (Rev. Timothy T.) and Ralph Emerson Barnett, " T Ruth", as she was lovingly known by family and friends, was born in Hawkinsville, GA, and was a 1949 graduate of the William H. Spencer High School. She was a 1953 graduate of Ft. Valley State College, where she also obtained her Master's degree in Education. She retired following 35 years of dedicated service with the Muscogee County School District as an Educator, her final tenure being at Clubview Elementary School. She was a former member of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church, and was currently a member of South Columbus United Methodist Church. She also served as a member of the Elite Entre Nous Social Club, the Spencer High School '49ers, and was a founding member of Epsilon Eta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She was also a Girl Scout Troup Leader.

Survivors include: her sister, Barbara Dorsey; six beloved nieces, Gayle (Samuel) Daniels, her "daughter" Faye Lewis Boyer, Belva Dorsey, Joni Dorsey, Veleta (Henry) Pasley and Nicol (Andrew) Bell; eleven great nephews and nieces, nine great great nieces; loving and supportive cousins, Brenda (Elijah) Weatherspoon and Frederick Brown; and a host of people who called her sister, T-Ruth, cousin, Soror, patient and close friend.